LINCOLN — Volleyball fans across the state are accustomed to watching almost every Nebraska home match live on NET. But the Huskers' move to the Big Ten is going to severely limit the number of contests the network will be able to show.

Through a deal with the Big Ten Network, it appears that NET will only be able to do live broadcasts for four of the Huskers' 2011 matches. NET producer-director Sue Maryott, who attended Nebraska's volleyball media day Thursday, said her network's negotiations with the BTN for the upcoming season are almost complete.

"We're waiting for a signature, but we're looking at probably four matches," Maryott said. "They (the Big Ten Network) did not give us the number of matches we were requesting."

Nebraska coach John Cook was optimistic that NET would be allowed to show at least eight of the Huskers' matches. Husker volleyball is a big part of NET's brand, and the network aired 13 NU matches last season — including two during the opening rounds of the NCAA tournament. With the Huskers' history of selling out matches at the 4,000-seat NU Coliseum, many fans rely on NET's broadcasts to follow the team.

Outside of NET, the Huskers will have four matches this season that air either on the Big Ten Network or ESPN2. But three of those will be tape delayed.

Cook chose his words carefully Thursday when discussing the Big Ten Network's dealings with NET. But it was clear the coach had hoped that NET would be able to continue showing the same amount of matches it had in the past.

"Do you want my honest answer or my politically correct answer?" Cook said. "Of course, the Big Ten Network is hot, and it's a big deal. There's a lot of exposure on that, and a lot of possibility. I'm not crazy about the tape-delay part, because I think people want to see us live for some of these big matches we're going to play. But it's a great start, and I think the Big Ten Network is growing.

"I think one of the greatest things that has built Nebraska volleyball over the years is the ability to be on NET — so that Nebraska volleyball can be in every home in Nebraska. Young girls get to see our players and identify with them. So even though (NET) is going to do some of our matches, I think losing that is a negative for us going to the Big Ten."

Wilberger, Root voted captains

The NU captains for 2011 will be Jordan Wilberger, a middle blocker from Scottsbluff, and Brigette Root, a reserve setter from Grand Island.

Both seniors walked on at NU, and each said it's an unexpected honor to be designated as a team leader. The players recently voted for captains, and Cook said the results say a lot about the character and work ethic of Wilberger and Root.

And it's an especially significant development for Root, who has never started a match and has appeared briefly in only four matches during her career. She didn't play at all in 2010. She appeared in one set as a sophomore and five sets as a freshman.

"The whole experience here has been up and down — I've had great times and I've had some tough times," Root said. "Both me and Jordan, it's amazing how far we've come from walking on as freshmen. For my teammates to respect us that much to vote us captains, it's probably the biggest honor I've ever received."

Lauren Cook set for third league

Lauren Cook, NU's junior setter and the daughter of Husker coach John Cook, will be playing in her third conference during the third year of her collegiate career.

It's a unique situation, and the Lincoln Pius X graduate said it's something she feels fortunate to be able to do.

Cook started at UCLA, where she earned both Pac-10 and national freshman of the year honors. She transferred to NU for her sophomore season and helped the Huskers win the Big 12 championship during their last year in the league.

This season, Cook will guide NU's one-setter attack as the team transitions into the Big Ten.

"I feel blessed to be able to play in three conferences," she said. "It's not only about playing all these great volleyball teams, you get to see all these cool venues and cities, too. I don't know that too many people have done this, and it's pretty special to me. It's one of the first things my dad brought up when we found out we were going to the Big Ten.

"And you look at these conferences — the Pac-10, Big 12 and Big Ten are the three best volleyball conferences in the nation, so it's a really cool thing for me to do this."

— Chad Purcell